Steam strippers

ABSTRACT

A steam stripper ( 14 ) is provided with a support comprising a pole ( 16 ) comprised of connected sections ( 17, 18 ) and ( 19 ). The upper sections  17  and ( 18 ) are connected by a resilient spring apparatus ( 23 ), and the support is connected to a handle ( 20 ) of the stripper by a T-shaped rest ( 22 ), having a strap ( 21 ) for securing the handle to the rest. In one embodiment the support comprises an attachment ( 42 ) for a paint roller extension pole ( 51 ).

This invention relates to improvements in steam strippers which are usedto moisten and heat decorative wall and ceiling covers such aswallpapers and Artex for removal of the covers using a spatula orscraper.

A steam stripper comprises steam generating apparatus typicallycomprising a bulky body containing a water reservoir and an electricheater, mounted on wheels or castors for mobility. The steam generatorapparatus is connected by a steam pipe to a steam plate which comprisesa rectangular plate, typically 30 or 40 cms by 50 or 60 cms with a rimenclosing a shallow volume to which steam is fed, to be applied to anexternal flat surface such as a wall or ceiling for steaming andmoistening decorative paper or Artex thereon for removal using a spatulaor scraper. The steam plate is provided with a handle for holding theplate in contact with the wall or ceiling surface.

In the case of a ceiling, particularly a high ceiling, with this type ofsteam plate, it is necessary for the user to not only stand possiblyprecariously on a step ladder, but also to adopt a strained positionholding the steam plate under pressure against the ceiling and lookingupwards. This causes discomfort and fatigue and is potentially hazardousas it is performed at a height above the floor, and with the possibilityof scalding condensed steam continually dripping onto the user.

It is an object of this invention to provide steam stripper apparatuswhich includes means for supporting the steam plate so as to avoid orreduce uncomfortable fatigue or dangerous positions in using the steamplate on ceiling surfaces.

According to the invention, in combination with a steam plate in steamstripper apparatus, there is provided a support means for the steamplate comprising a pole member adapted for engagement with the steamplate at one end, and for engagement with a floor surface at the otherend.

The pole member preferably includes a resilient means to enable partialretraction thereof for engagement and disengagement with the steamplate, and to accommodate differences in ceiling height.

The pole member may comprise two or more interconnectable sections whichcan be dismounted for carriage. In one embodiment, a support for a steamstripper may be provided as an attachment for a standard paint rollerextension pole. This may be provided as a shank having a T-shaped restwith a strap, and incorporating a spring device, the shank beingterminated with a female screw connector for attachment to a paintroller extension pole in place of the paint roller handle.

The resilient means may comprise a sleeve or tube housing a compressionspring, the ends of which are engaged by the ends of upper and lowerpole sections. A tube may extend through the spring, an end of the tubebeing fixed in the end of one of the pole sections, the other end of thetube extending freely into the other pole section to maintain thelateral alignment and compressive strength of the pole.

A preferred embodiment of support means for a steam stripper apparatusis further described hereinafter with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an overall view illustrating a steam stripper apparatus,provided with a support means in accordance with the invention for thesteam plate;

FIG. 2 is a detail view of resilient means embodied in the supportmeans;

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the upper end of the support means;

FIG. 4 is a detailed view of a connection between sections of thesupport means;

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the front or lower end of the supportmeans,

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal section of a further embodiment of supportmeans; and

FIG. 7 is a similar view of a variant of the FIG. 6 embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1 a steam stripper apparatus comprises a steamgenerating unit 10, mounted on castors 11 for mobility and containing awater reservoir which can be replenished via a filler cap 12, and ane.g. electrically heated boiler for producing steam. Steam is conductedalong a pipe or hose 13 to a steam plate 14 which comprises arectangular member having shallow side walls 15 to define a volume incontact with a surface such as a wall or ceiling. The steam plate bringssteam and condensed water into contact with any paper cladding or Artexwhich is to be removed from the surface. The steam and warm water act tosoften the paper or Artex and weaken the adhesive bond, facilitatingsubsequent removal of the paper or Artex from the surface using aspatula or scraper.

In FIG. 1, the steam plate 14 is shown applied to a ceiling, and it issupported in accordance with the invention by a support means consistingof a pole 16, which extends from the steam plate to the floor and servesto support the steam plate 14 and remove its weight from a person usingthe steam plate during its use.

The pole 16 is comprised of three sections, 17, 18 and 19. Section 17 isconnected to a handle 20 of the steam plate as shown in FIG. 3, by aVelcro strap 21 which is connected to a head piece 22 on the top end ofsection 17. Sections 17 and 18 are connected by a sleeve 23 whichencloses a compression spring 24 the ends of which are seated onrespective end flanges 25, 26 of sections 17, 18, thus enabling thelength of the pole 16 to be shortened by pushing the sections 17, 18together, which facility can used to position the pole, and thus when inuse.

A guide member 27 is force fitted in the lower end of Section 17 and isfreely movable in the upper end of Section 18 and passes concentricallywithin the spring 24 and serves to ensure that the Sections 17, 18 donot become separated.

Sections 18 and 19, which have respective end flanges 28 and 29, areconnected by means of a locking collar 30, which comprises a splitsleeve 32, and threaded locking collar mechanism 33, which whentightened locks section 18 in the required position to accommodatedifferent ceiling heights. The end flanges 28, 29, retain the sections18, 19, in a telescopic relationship, the top end of section 19 beingexternally threaded to accommodate the locking collar 32, see FIG. 4.

As shown in FIG. 5, the foot of the pole 16 provided by the end ofSection 19 is provided with a rubber or plastics shoe or tip 31 whichhelps to minimise wear or abrasion to floor coverings, and also preventsthe pole from slipping.

The support shown in FIG. 6 comprises a T-shaped head 40, which may actas a saddle for a handle of a steam plate, and is furnished with aVelcro strap 41 by means of which the handle can be secured to the head40. The head 40 is mounted on a shank 42 comprising a top end part 43and a bottom end part 44. The end parts are slidable in a reduceddiameter inner tube 15 which acts as a core for a coil spring 46 withinan outer sleeve 47.

The spring 46 is seated at either end on the ends of the end parts 43and 44 and can be compressed by pressing the end parts towards eachother. As in the first application this allows length adjustment andhelps to press the steam plate against a surface which is being treated.

The free end of the bottom end part 44 is closed by a force fit body 48which is provided with an axial female threaded bore 49 which isadjusted to receive a complementarily threaded spigot 50 on the end ofan extension rod 51 such as the first of one or more sections of a paintroller extension pole.

FIG. 7 shows a variant on the FIG. 6 embodiment wherein the T-shapedhead 60 with strap 61 is connected directly to an external cylinder 67which houses a compression spring 66. The lower part of the attachmentcomprises a rod 64, with a head 65 received as a slidable piston withinthe cylinder 67, and biased to the end position shown to extend the rod64 fully from the cylinder 67. The end 68 of the rod 64 has a screwthreaded socket 69 to accommodate a threaded spigot 70 on the end of anextension rod 71.

This achieves a further option and thus versatility in the use of theconcept underlying the invention described in FIGS. 1 to 5.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the preferredembodiment described, and in particular the member and lengths ofsections may be varied to suit for example ceiling heights and carryingspace.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the preferredembodiments illustrated and described, and other materials and mountingmeans within the scope of the invention may be used.

1. A support means for a steam plate in stream stripper apparatus, saidsupport means comprising a pole member adapted for engagement with thesteam plate at one end of the pole, and for engagement with a floorsurface at the other end of the pole.
 2. A support means according toclaim 1, wherein the pole member includes a resilient means to enablepartial retraction thereof for engagement and disengagement with thesteam plate and to accommodate differences in ceiling height.
 3. Asupport means according to claim 1, wherein the pole member comprisestwo or more interconnectable sections which can be dismounted forcarriage.
 4. A support means according to claim 2 wherein the resilientmeans comprises a sleeve or tube housing a compression spring, the endsof which are engaged by the ends of the upper and lower pole sections.5. A support means according to claim 4, wherein a tube extends axiallywithin and through the spring, an end of the tube being fixed on the endof one of the pole sections, and the other end of the tube extendingfreely into the other pole section to maintain the lateral alignment andcompressive strength of the pole.
 6. A support means according to claim1, wherein the support comprises an attachment for connection to astandard paint roller extension pole.
 7. A support means according toclaim 6 wherein the attachment comprises a shank having a T-shaped restwith a strap and incorporating said resilient means, the shank beingterminated with a screw thread connector for attachment to acomplementary screw thread connector on a paint roller extension pole inplace of the paint roller handle.
 8. A support means according to claim7, wherein the strap is permanently connected to one face of theT-shaped rest, and releasably connected to the opposite face thereof. 9.A support means for use in combination with a steam plate in steamstripper apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described withreference to and as shown in any of the accompanying drawings.